Buying Embroidery Online

• DateFebruary 25, 2012
• Authorceltique
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Hi all. I just want to let you know about a pet peeve of mine that I see more and more of as I surf the web. I see many companies (large and small) selling embroidered items, but not using pictures of things they have stitched out. They are using pictures from the stock design companies they purchased the design from (yes, much like digital stock art). Sometimes they’ll even go so far as to copy/paste the image onto the item they are selling.

Why does this bother me? There are lots of variables when it comes to machine embroidery. The main one is the machine.  There are many brands both of home and industrial machines and just like computers, they all seem to have their own personalities. They will read the same file slightly different. This automatically slightly alters the design. If the operator knows their machine well, this can be minimized.

Other very important variables are quality thread, proper stabilizer, and fabric choice. The stock design company uses a very specific fabric in their stitch outs that makes the design look its best; usually some form of felt. Many products that are sold to consumers are going to be t-shirts or other semi-stretch material if it’s going on the body or cotton broadcloth if it’s for things like quilt blocks (there are lots of those being sold online). If poor quality thread is used, the design will honestly look cheap. If the company uses the wrong stabilizer, the design can pucker, outlines can move, or the fabric can become distorted.

Lastly is the size/stitch count of the design. I have many beautiful large designs that people always ask if I can put on a t-shirt. Technically, it can be done, but it would be heavy, hang poorly, and compromise the longevity of the shirt. I can’t in good conscience take someone’s money if I know the product won’t look right or last long. Others apparently don’t have problems with this like I do.  One that I’ve seen has photoshopped the stock design company’s image of a very stitch heavy design onto a t-shirt and selling it to anyone who would like it.

With these things in mind, I worry for those who do purchase from these companies and they really have no idea of the quality of the item they will receive in the mail. Please, if you have any doubts about what you’re looking at, contact the seller. Ask them questions. Reputable business people should have no problems answering you or producing other pictures if you request them.

Here is an example of a picture from the stock design company, my stitch-out, and what it looks like on a garment: